Muscat: The Ministry of Social Development has issued a decision to dissolve a drugs counselling and awareness group.

Al Hayat Association has been dissolved and officers of the registered association have been told to make all funds and documents available to the ministry.

“The Minister of Social Development, Sheikh Mohammed Al Kalbani, has issued a decree to dissolve Al Hayat Association. The society employees may not have right to dispose of association funds and documents,” the Ministry of Social Development announced online.

The Ministry statement added: “Al Hayat Association administrators have to hand over all documents to the ministry and shall be prohibited from continuing their activities.

“The competent department of the Ministry will take all procedures related to the resolution of the case.”

Al Hayat Association was a registered Omani association aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and providing counselling and care for addicts, survivors and their families.

Al Hayat Association was founded on October 11, 2009.

Faisal Alhnishi, chairman of the last session of Al Hayat Association, said: “One of the biggest obstacles the association faced was the financial constraints and lack of donations. That can be the reason to stop the association activities.”

“After the end of our administration session in October 27, 2017, the administration of the association turned to the Ministry of Social Development. Today, we were surprised by the decision, and we await clarification from the ministry about the reasons for the suspension and to clarify the fate of the beneficiaries.

“We will have a meeting with the ministry this week to identify the mechanism for the preservation of the beneficiaries’ rights, and there are a number of people who have official membership of the association and have the right to know the fate of the association.”